Failure to Follow Aseptic Technique and Physician Orders During IV Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
A registered nurse failed to follow aseptic technique during the administration of intravenous medication to a resident with multiple serious diagnoses, including leukemia, malignant neoplasms, and infections requiring a PICC line for IV antibiotic therapy. The nurse dropped the IV bag and tubing on the floor before entering the resident's room, then picked them up and proceeded to use them for the medication administration without replacing them. The nurse donned appropriate personal protective equipment and swabbed the PICC port with alcohol before connecting the tubing and starting the infusion. Additionally, the nurse did not perform a physician-ordered saline flush of the PICC line prior to administering the IV medication, as required by the resident's orders. The flush was only performed after the medication had begun infusing, contrary to the specified protocol. These actions were observed and confirmed by the nurse, representing a failure to adhere to both infection control and medication administration policies.